Not the bad guy
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Euro-6 has attracted a lot of bad press — which is understandable when you consider that trucks were rumoured to be heavier more complex, thirstier and pricier. But is all the negativity really warranted?
Euro-6 trucks will be heavier, but not by as much as initially feared. The average Euro-6 6x2 tractor will be about 200kg heavier, which is insignificant for all but the most weight-critical of operations. They will definitely be more complex, but that's only an issue if you are doing your own maintenance, and how many UK hauliers do that these days? We were initially told that it could be 8% thirstier than Euro-5, but this isn't the case. According to the OEMs, aerodynamic enhancements and new fuel-saving electronic aids have ensured that Euro-6 won't cost more at the pumps. We proved it when a Euro-6 Scania G440 achieved 9.2mpg on our test route (CM 10 May), setting a record for a 40-tonner.
As for the price hike, figures being banded about are in the region of £10,000 for a tractor. It's a bitter pill for cash-strapped operators to swallow, but made slightly sweeter by the fact that most Euro-6 trucks feature redesigned or new cabs. But how realistic is that figure?
In my opinion, once the dust has settled, it will more likely result in a £5,000 price increase.
So maybe Euro-6 isn't that bad. But then you've probably already worked that out for yourselves — which explains why the expected pull-forward of Euro-5 truck orders hasn't happened yet, ,05 and why Daf is only expecting the market to increase by 4,000 units next year. Will Shiers